I get to teach grow basics at work so

[Ladycontinent]

The hardware store I work at is finally selling grow products for cannabis (almost everything except the seeds). It took a lot to talk my boss into investing in this new section and I’m super excited. Now-I have coworkers who want to learn about the basics and products to better help customers, and I’ve been given the task since I’m the only one with any experience.
I’ve been doing this since 2016, but only been doing my own personal thing since 2019 and I still feel like a newbie so I’m nervous I’ll miss something important. I’m currently compiling a folder with basics on set ups, lighting schedules, feeding, and trimming. What bullet points would you make sure to hit for beginners without being overwhelming?
Sorry for the long post. I’m nervous and excited to help others in their journeys.

[Bluey]

pH
Climate
grow medium
Lighting
Watering and nutrients
Bugs and pests
Sexing the plant
Drying
Curing

[90Gizmo]

I asked Bard, Google's AI, for instructions for growing cannabis. It was missing a little bit it might make a good outline. Anyway try done different AIs, it's what that are made for.

[homegrown]

Here's a thought.... Tell them to read the GWE website. It has everything from grow basics to plant problems and when to harvest... all the information a grower will ever need. And very simple to use. Starting a seed usually isn't difficult, its everything after that needs attention.

[Ladycontinent]

Great idea-I do plan on giving a list of sites I’ve found helpful on my journey over the years. I only plan on laying down basics.

[LemonBud]

Where do you think ai gets its info Hmmmm. After all those years you must have the basics by now. Hmmm

[Bluey]

[kingfish]

Teach them the most important discipline, patience.

[AGH]

Very exciting that you were able to get your employer to sell grow equipment. If I were you, since it sounds like you work at a hardware store not a grow shop, I would focus on making sure you know how to use all of the equipment that you sell and use resources like GWE for the 'how to grow' portion. Otherwise you can go down rabbit holes and overwhelm people.

However, if you want to give advice on how to get started, I would focus on the WHY things are done as opposed to HOW things are done. For example, why is it important to maintain a certain temp or humidity? Why is it important to not overwater (or over love in general)? Why is it important to not give synthetic nutrients to an organic grow? Heck, even what's the difference and benefits/drawbacks of synthetic vs organic? There are college courses dedicated to growing cannabis so don't feel like you need to give (or would be able to!) a newbie all the info that they need.

Two most important things to tell them: 1) You will f-it up. Possibly multiple times. Your grow will never be perfect which is good because that means you're learning. Chill out and roll with it. 2) Always focus on the basics in roughly this order: temp, humidity, watering regime, ventilation, circulation, lighting, nutrients.

Try to think of the questions you had when you started. Simple things like 'what do plants eat?' (Remember, they don't eat the nutrients...for a plant, light is their food.) How much/how often should I water? How long does it take? Etc.

When teaching a newbie, it's important to not give them all the information that it took you years to figure out. Not because you don't want them to know it, but because they won't be able to process it all.

I used to teach people how to fly airplanes and the first lesson I'd give once we were in the sky is - "push down and the houses get bigger, pull up and the houses get smaller" and "keep the shiny side up". And that lesson blew their minds believe it or not!

[Gavin]

I would spend more time looking up how to build a high quality grow room, so much hardware would be needed, you could put a package together.

Without a good setup you can not control the environment( shed/loft grow space)

you need a setup that keep the running cost low and keeps the temps/humidty good.

After they have a good grow room, they can move onto the next stage, the setup(soil, coco or water system)
fans, filters ducting, lights(correct size light for the grow room).

imo, it's a lot of basic things you need to get right.